Arthur Theard
Tract called Morgan Commerce and
Virtue
Thomas
Collins acquired a parcel of land in the town of Wharton designated as a square
called Morgan Commerce and Virtue (C-1 415 21 Jan 1832) along with a number of
other lots in the Division of St John as a result of a court judgement against
the Gibson’s.
This specific tract was
not specifically spelled out in the partition documents. It is most likely part of the 13 squares
between Adams and Madison streets.
Thomas Collins sold the parcel called Morgan Commerce and Virtue to
Alexander Buchannon and John Lewis Theiling (F-1 15 10 Mar 1837).
This property was then acquired by Sarah
Delano at a State of Louisiana tax sale from an unknown owner on 20 March 1875
who in turn sold the property to Arthur Theard on 11 June 1877 (I 258). The tract called Morgan Commerce and Virtue
divides it from the Division of Winter and separates it from the Division of St
John according to the property description in I
258.
Arthur
Theard sold his interest in the Division of Morgan Commerce and Virtue. To insure clear title Theard obtained from
the decedents of John Theilan a conveyance of their ½ interest in Morgan
Commerce and Virtue. In addition Theard
obtained a release of any claims to the property from John Buchannon in exchange
for square 2 in the Division of Morgan Commerce and Virtue (I 351 27 Oct 1879)
Theard Street was important for several reasons, but two of the most important ones were, first, it was the location of the St. Tammany Ice and Manufacturing Co. and second, in the next block, was the Covington Grocery and Grain Company. The St. Tammany Ice and Manufacturing Company not only supplied the town's ice (which was a key community business in any town) but it also generated electric current from which wires were strung and the town was gradually electrified (in a good sense).
Theard Street was important for several reasons, but two of the most important ones were, first, it was the location of the St. Tammany Ice and Manufacturing Co. and second, in the next block, was the Covington Grocery and Grain Company. The St. Tammany Ice and Manufacturing Company not only supplied the town's ice (which was a key community business in any town) but it also generated electric current from which wires were strung and the town was gradually electrified (in a good sense).
The Covington Grocery and Grain Company was a key food supplier in the community, the region and the state. It sat right on the railroad line, taking in supplies and distributing to several locations. At Theard Street's northern end was the Mackie Pine Oil Plant (Delta Pine Products Co.) which processed pine stumps and made a variety of products. At one time Theard was just half a block from Alexius Bros. Hardware and the Covington Train Depot.
Theard at one time was on the "edge" of town, but it is now flanked by key government offices, including Covington City Hall, the St. Tammany Parish Public School System offices, the fire department, the 22nd Judicial District Justice Center, and the Covington Police Department. At its southern end is St. Scholastica Academy and St. Peter's Catholic Church and School, and at its northern end is the historic Covington Cemetery No. 1.
